Boston heads to Philadelphia with the series tied 1-1, but still priced like the clear tier-up team. The Celtics’ profile is familiar: elite efficiency on both ends, slow pace, and a shot diet that can swing halves quickly. Philly’s path is narrower, and it starts with winning the possession battle and finding enough clean looks against a top-shelf defense.
Boston is laying 7.5 on the road with a modest 215.5 total, which fits what these teams have been all year: the slowest-paced team in the league (Boston) versus a mid-tempo Sixers group that can get to the line but has struggled with shooting efficiency. Odds as of 10:59 AM ET on April 22, 2026.
Odds & Game Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, April 24, 2026 |
| Time (ET) | 7:00 PM (listed); typical tip shortly after |
| Arena | Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia) |
| Spread | Celtics -7.5 (-114) | 76ers +7.5 (-106) |
| Moneyline | Celtics -295 | 76ers +240 |
| Total | Over 215.5 (-112) | Under 215.5 (-108) |
Team Overview
| Team | Record | Home/Road | Last 10 | ATS | O/U | ORtg | DRtg | Pace | Key Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 56-26 | Home 30-11 | Road 26-15 | 8-2 | 49-33 | 30-52 | 120.0 | 111.7 | 95.6 (30th) | No rotation player listed OUT on team page as of Apr. 22 (re-check official report closer to tip) |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 45-37 | Home 23-18 | Road 22-19 | 6-4 | 43-39-1 | 40-43 | 114.3 | 114.4 | 100.4 (15th) | Joel Embiid (OUT on team page as of Apr. 22) |
Team Recaps
Boston Celtics
Boston’s edge is efficiency plus control. They finished with a 120.0 offensive rating (No. 2) and 111.7 defensive rating (No. 4), and they do it while playing at a 95.6 pace (30th). That pace matters in betting markets because it shrinks total possessions and makes it harder for underdogs to “run hot” for long stretches without elite shot-making.
The Celtics’ four-factor shape is clean: low turnovers (12.9% TOV rate, 3rd), strong work on the offensive glass (33.6% ORB%, 5th), and they defend without gifting free points (opponent FT rate 24.5%, 6th). The one “leak” is they do not force many turnovers (forced TOV% 12.9%, 26th), which can keep opponents from having those catastrophic empty-possession stretches.
Philadelphia 76ers
Philly’s season-long profile says “good enough” on both ends but with real shooting variance. The 76ers posted a 114.3 offensive rating (16th) and 114.4 defensive rating (17th) at a 100.4 pace (15th). Offensively, the biggest red flag is efficiency: 53.0% eFG (26th). That’s a tough way to live against a defense that ranks 4th in opponent eFG (52.3%).
There are two areas that can keep Philadelphia afloat. First, they’ve taken care of the ball (13.4% TOV rate, 6th). Second, they can create pressure with free throws (27.5% FT rate, 11th). The rebound math is the danger zone: their defense has allowed a 32.2% opponent offensive rebounding rate (26th), and Boston is built to punish second-chance lapses.
Matchup Keys
- Possession battle (Boston ORB% vs Philly opponent ORB%): Celtics ORB% 33.6% (5th) vs 76ers opponent ORB% 32.2% (26th). Extra Boston looks are the quickest way this spread gets out of hand.
- Shot quality gap: 76ers eFG% 53.0% (26th) vs Celtics opponent eFG% 52.3% (4th). Philly needs either a 3-point heater or a big free-throw edge to keep pace.
- Free throws as Philly’s stabilizer: 76ers FT rate 27.5% (11th) vs Celtics opponent FT rate 24.5% (6th). If whistles stay quiet, it favors Boston’s half-court control.
- Turnovers likely won’t save either side: Celtics forced TOV% 12.9% (26th) and 76ers TOV% 13.4% (6th). Philly should get shots most trips; the question is how good those shots are.
- Total possessions are naturally capped: Celtics pace 95.6 (30th). If Boston dictates tempo, late-game fouling becomes the main threat to an under.
Betting Trends
- Boston is 49-33 ATS this season.
- Philadelphia is 43-39-1 ATS this season.
- Boston games have leaned strongly under: O/U record 30-52.
- Philadelphia’s O/U record is 40-43, closer to neutral.
- Boston is 8-2 over its last 10; Philadelphia is 6-4 over its last 10.
- Boston plays the slowest pace in the NBA (95.6), a built-in tailwind for unders.
- Philadelphia ranks 26th in eFG%, a tough fit versus a Boston defense that ranks 4th in opponent eFG%.
- Boston’s offense is elite (120.0 ORtg), but it comes with the league’s lowest FT rate (20.7%, 30th), which can keep scoring from “snowballing” at the line.
Best Bet
Under 215.5 (-108)
Boston’s pace (95.6, dead last) is the headline, and it’s backed by the season-long results: Celtics games are 30-52 to the over/under, meaning unders have cashed far more often than overs. This matchup also has a clear efficiency pinch point for Philly, with a 53.0% eFG (26th) facing Boston’s 52.3% opponent eFG (4th). If Philadelphia can’t manufacture points at the line early, you’re asking them to beat an elite defense with jump shooting in a reduced-possession environment.
Best Bet Rating: 3 units (out of 5)
Predicted Score
Boston 108, Philadelphia 101
21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.